The Sommer Frieze

YANKEES
Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera CF
Andy Pettitte P

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37 postseason ERA)

Girardi named CC the starter for Game 4. Three days rest. CC vs. Blanton.

In the 4th, 3-2 Phils. Andy has been two different pitchers tonight, owning the lefties (Howard struck out twice, making it six in a row for him) but struggling against the righties. In the 2nd, Werth HR’d (off what I thought was a good pitch) leading off the inning and with one out Feliz doubled. You think ”get Ruiz then the pitcher is up and get out of it with one run.” Only Andy couldn’t. A walk to Ruiz. Hamels lays down a bunt that basically no one could do anything with but eat it. Bases loaded. Andy walks in a run and Victorino hits a SF to put the Phils up 3-0.

In the 4th, Teixeira walks and Alex gets the Yankees’ first hit, an opposite field HR originally ruled a double. The umps converged and viewed the replay, which showed the HR hitting a TV camera perched on top of the wall and not the wall. The ball was over the fence. 3-2 Yanks.

Still, after four, that is the Yanks only hit. The Yanks need to take the advice I dished out in game one. They need to concentrate on hitting the ball the other way. It’s how to beat Lee, and how to beat Hamels….and that is exactly where Alex’s HR went.   

In the 5th, the Yanks bust it open. Finally, Nick Swisher wakes up and gets a leadoff double. Melky disappoints but then the improbable happens. Of all things, Andy Pettitte dunks a single into CF to tie the game. Jeter singles and Damon follows with a 2-run double. Jeter has to avoid running up Andy’s back, but it is 5-3 Yanks and Hamels is done.

Swisher proves that he is back with a HR in the 6th. 6-3 Yanks, but in the bottom of the inning, Werth launches his 2nd HR of the game, and boy, is it tagged. 6-4.

But in the 7th, Damon walks and Alex is HBP for the 2nd time in the game. Posada dunks a single and it is 7-4 Yanks.

Pettitte’s line wasn’t the prettiest, 6 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 3 walks, 7 K and the 2 HR to Werth. But in the end, postseason win #17 was his.

Joba pitched a 1-2-3 7th.

In the 8th, Matsui PH and hit an opposite field HR. He is sure making it tough not to bring him back, huh? 8-4 Yanks.

Bottom 8. Marte (of all people. 1-3, 9.45 but remember his numbers against Utley, Howard and Ibanez?) has a 1-2-3. He whiffs Howard, who has now struck out in 7 of his last 8 ABs.

In the 9th, another sign of concern for Yankees fans. Hughes comes in. He gets a ground out but gives up an HR to Ruiz. 8-5.

But in comes the greatest. You may be worried because of the 2-inning, 39 pitch save in Game 2, but Mo makes this one look easy. Two outs to go, a 3-run lead. All it takes is five pitches. It’s really nice because the last out is on Rollins, who said the Phils may have seen something on Rivera. Well, if they did, J-Roll didn’t do anything with it when he popped up to end the game.   

Halfway there. And Yanks fans really have to be happy with the CC (even on 3 days rest) vs. Blanton matchup in Game 4. I doubt that Manuel will go to Lee on 3 days rest by pulling a switcheroo at the last minute. But CC vs. Blanton appears (emphasis…you never know) to favor the Yankees.

Do it CC. Go up 3-1 and then hopefully you are done until 2010.